Introduction

For karmīs (those on the path of karma), liberation means attainment of extreme opulence, an endless duration of heavenly life, and ceaseless enjoyment of intense sensual pleasure; for the jñānīs (the empirical philosophers), liberation means the blissful merging into the oneness of the Brahman effulgence (the spiritual sky); but for the bhaktas, liberation means engagement in loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The liberation of the karmīs and jñānīs is temporary, whereas the true liberation of the bhaktas is permanent. The karmīs, after exhausting the results of their past pious activities, which qualified them to enter the heavenly planets, return to this middle planetary system (or lower) to continue in the cycle of saṁsāra (birth and death). After the jñānīs experience the seemingly unending bliss of merging into the oneness of the effulgent brahma-jyoti, which emanates from the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇaloka—they return to the material atmosphere to undergo the endless reactions of karma. However, the bhaktas (who are of three stages) are on the path of eternal liberation from the beginning of their devotional lives. The three stages of bhaktas are defined as kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī, and uttama-adhikārī. Adhikārī means “qualifications”.

End: Meaning of Liberation (Pt.1)
Next: Meaning of Liberation (Pt.2)